Pathworks for DOS 4.0 System Support Addendum 55.07.10-A Jun91

This document is a System Support Addendum for PATHWORKS for DOS, Version 4.0 (formerly DECnet PCSA Client for DOS), detailing its hardware and software compatibility and requirements as of June 1991.

Key Requirements & Support:

• Hardware:

  • PC Type: Intel 8086- to 80486-based personal computers from the Supported Base Systems Chart.
  • Memory: Minimum 640KB system memory.
  • Disk Space: 12MB of free hard disk space (or 23,000 blocks on a VMS server) for full installation.
  • Diskette Drive: At least one 5.25-inch (360KB) or 3.5-inch (720KB) diskette drive for media loading.
  • Network: One network connection, either asynchronous or via an Ethernet controller.
  • Printers: Supports various Digital printers (LA, LJ, LN series).
  • Keyboards: Supports standard keyboards and Digital LK250.
  • Video Adapters: Supports a wide range of video adapters (e.g., MDA, CGA, EGA, VGA, SVGA from IBM, COMPAQ, Olivetti, Paradise, Digital).

• Optional Hardware/Software Features:

  • Expanded Memory Specification (EMS): Supports EMS Version 4.0 compliant applications; the PATHWORKS networking software requires 144KB of EMS.
  • Microsoft Windows: Supports Windows/286 v2.1 and Windows v3.0.
  • TCP/IP: PATHWORKS for DOS (TCP/IP) is required for TCP/IP network transport.

• PC DECwindows/Motif® Support (for X Window System applications):

  • PC Type: Requires an Intel 80286-, 80386-, or 80486-based PC.
  • Memory: Minimum 640KB free system memory, with 1-4MB total for X Window System applications.
  • Disk Space: An additional 1-2MB of hard disk space for temporary files.
  • Mouse: Requires a Microsoft-compatible mouse driver (not included in PATHWORKS).
  • Network: Not supported in an asynchronous network environment.
  • Supports its own extensive list of video adapters.

• Networking & Controller Compatibility:

  • Supports various Digital Ethernet controllers (DEPCA, EtherWORKS LC/MC/Turbo) and 3Com Ethernet controllers (EtherLink II/MC).
  • Includes Network Device Interface Specification (NDIS) Version 1.0 compliant device drivers and Digital proprietary datalinks (DLLs).
  • Supports asynchronous DDCMP network connections via serial ports.

• Software Compatibility:

  • Client Operating Systems: Supports specific versions of DOS from COMPAQ, DECstation, IBM, Olivetti, Tandy, Toshiba, and Zenith (primarily v3.3x and v4.0x). Systems are supported only with their native operating system software.
  • Server Software: Compatible with PATHWORKS for VMS v4.0, PATHWORKS for ULTRIX v1.0, PATHWORKS for OS/2 v1.1, and VAXmate Services for MS-DOS v2.2.

Supported Configurations: The software has been tested on a wide range of specific base systems (including models from COMPAQ, Digital DECstation, IBM, Olivetti, Tandy, Toshiba, and Zenith). Digital commits to resolving issues that can be reproduced on these officially supported configurations.